http:// 2013-05-23T06:26:20Z 2013-05-23T06:26:20Z master-perth-photographer-provides-blueprint-for-success

Perth, WA, May 23, 2013 - Geoff Fisher is the owner of Fisher Photography and is a Master photographer in Perth. He has been a professional photographer for over 35 years. He has been awarded the status of Master Photographer by the Australian Institute of Professional Photography. He has personally trained many other professional photographers, including everyone currently on his team.Fisher finds himself in a position where he is an authority and a role model to many aspiring photographers. He is often asked how to become a professional photographer. Earlier this month, Fisher posted a virtual roadmap to success on his blog. The post displays a depth of knowledge and understanding that is far beyond what the casual observer would expect for photography.The hobby photographer usually thinks that taking great photographs is simple: buy a good camera, aim it, and push the button. While this is a good way to get good amateur pictures, there is much more to professional photography.Fisher identifies six skills that any professional photographer must have to be successful. The first essential skill is the “eye” of an artist. A professional photographer must have an innate understanding of what makes a great picture. Literally one second too fast or too slow can make the difference between a mediocre photo and a lasting memory.The second skill involves managing people. This skill can also be seen as “rapport.” If the subjects aren't comfortable in the presence of the photographer, they will never “loosen up” enough to allow their natural personalities and beauty to shine through and be captured on camera. Fisher notes that it is rare when someone has both the artistic and managerial characteristics, and that most people only have one or the other trait, thus making it difficult to be a professional photographer.The next necessary skill is the ability to take full advantage of technology. This includes exposure speed, lighting, camera angles, timing, and lenses, among many other particulars that must be right. A photographer must also be teachable; they must have the ability to learn many divergent skills. They must also be willing or motivated to learn.The last skill or trait is patience. As the saying goes, “Rome wasn't built in a day” - neither are professional photographers. Becoming a professional photographer is difficult, and becoming a Master Photographer and an authority takes even longer.According to Fisher, there is no substitute for professional experience: “Ultimately, to be a successful professional photographer, you must take a lot of pictures in a professional setting. Despite what many of the camera companies say in their advertising, there is no camera that will take perfect pictures every time, simply by pointing and shooting.”“As for becoming an authority, it almost seems to happen by accident, if you work hard enough. As I became more experienced, I noticed that people naturally gravitated to me and asked questions about photography. When I attained Master Photographer status, though, it seemed to kick everything into high gear.”Fisher concluded, “To me, it is a pretty simple formula; I learned as much as I could, and I took as many pictures as I could, until I knew what I was doing. Then, I started teaching others. But I will never stop learning.”Geoff Fisher is an AIPP Master Photographer, and is the owner of Fisher Photography in Perth. He offers family photography, baby photography, corporate photography, and more. For more information, call 08 9381 2233. To view some of his work, please visit his website: http://fisherphotography.com.au/.

2013-04-30T06:36:57Z professional-perth-photographer-warns-don-t-trust-your-cherished-memories-to-an-amateur

Perth, WA, April 30, 2013 - In a recent blog post on his website, Perth photographer Geoff Fisher gave a long, detailed answer to a frequently asked question: “Why should I hire a professional photographer?” Fisher, who has been the owner of Fisher Photography for the past 35 years, holds “Master Photographer” status, awarded by the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP). In addition, he has won a Gold Award, and many Silver Awards, and has been named AIPP Western Australian Portrait Photographer of the Year. In the post, Fisher explained some of the pitfalls of hiring an amateur photographer, and described some of the factors that differentiate professional photographers from amateurs. Since the advent of digital cameras, amateur photographers have had access to much better equipment than they used to. Unfortunately, this has inspired many amateur photographers to buy the most expensive camera at their local department store, take a few pictures, and offer their services to friends and acquaintances as photographers. While some of the more expensive digital cameras on the market do, indeed, take great pictures, they are still, by nature, point and click devices. The amateur photographer simply points the camera, waits for it to focus, and snaps a picture. While this can produce the occasional good picture, professionals view the default settings on any camera to be a starting point: not a finishing point. Professional photographers use equipment that is far more expensive and elaborate than the cameras at the local department store. Professional photographers use their own lighting. Their studios are designed to allow for perfect lighting, and their cameras allow for more adjustments. Professionals pay close attention to variables such as angles, exposure time, distance, and different lenses. Professionals undergo extensive training, and then add experience to that training. Fisher, for example, has personally trained everyone in his studio, regardless of their past experience. Professional photographers leave nothing to chance. Their protocols ensure that there’ll be no surprises, such as cameras without batteries, or lights that don’t work. Amateur photographers, even those who mean well, are simply lacking in the equipment and experience to provide a product on the level of a professional photographer. Fisher believes that the risks are too high and the rewards are too low for anyone who needs professional photos to trust them to anyone but a professional photographer. According to Fisher, “Your photographs are extremely important. While amateurs are certainly capable of taking decent photos, they cannot come close to producing the kind of quality your professional photographer can. Professional photographers have years of training and experience, and they have access to equipment that outclasses anything an amateur can buy.” Fisher continued, “We have been taking professional photographs for over 35 years. We have seen every situation, and have taken photographs for all kinds of people. All of this experience has taught us how to consistently uncover the best of anyone’s inner qualities, and allow them to come to the surface to be photographed. When those photographs are taken under controlled conditions with professional equipment, they always turn out perfect.” Fisher concluded, “Professionals have the best training, the best equipment, and the most experience. If you want professional results, hire a professional photographer.”Fisher receives a lot of testimonials; a recent one comes from CJ Halvorson, who is Vice President of Strategic Accounts in Asia, Pacific, and Japan for a major IT Company: “Hi, Geoff: Love the photo and getting great reviews already.” Fisher Photography provides professional photography in Perth and the surrounding area. They offer many services, including portrait photography, family photography, and corporate photography to their Perth area clients. For more information, call (08) 9381 2233 or visit their website: http://fisherphotography.com.au/

2013-03-28T11:34:12Z remarkable-innovations-with-birth-cards

Birth cards are really innovative ways of portraying your love towards your newborn. Your baby is your greatest source of joy. The idea of a birth card is to share your happiness with your relatives and friends. A newborn always brings about a feeling of ecstasy and happiness. It is the most memorable moment of your life. You really need to design the birth card for your baby very aesthetically. It must leave a bright smile on the face of the recipients.Here is how you can customise wonderful birth cards:The first thing to do is to click some amazing photos of your baby. Get some classic snaps that depict the beauty of your baby. You would need to capture the different poses of your newborn. Your baby's smile, wonderful expressions and beautiful hands can be part of your birth card. You can also click the different moods of your baby in various costumes and at different moments. The basic idea is to encapsulate the prettiest looks of your baby and use them in your cards.Get some colorful newborn cards and cut them artistically based on your need. You can make your creation look different by using folded cards. Glue some colorful papers on both sides of the card to make it look impressive. Generally, every birth card carries a unique theme. You can customise the theme to blend seamlessly with the background of your baby's snap. For instance, if you have a forest theme then you can use a mixture of green and brown shaded papers with lovely texture to symbolise greenery and woods. If you have a glowing theme then you can use golden colored papers. You need to be really creative for emphasising the theme of your card. If you have a classic Xmas theme then you can cut out a Xmas tree and decorate your birth card.Your card would have a defined space to paste the picture of your baby. You can artistically cut the borders of the picture so that it blends flawlessly with your card's background. Now, your basic card structure is in place. You need to decorate it to make it more visually appealing. You can keep the existing theme simple or you can also add some decorative elements. One way is by drawing some colorful flowers surrounding your baby's picture. Alternatively, you can also buy small colorful paper flowers and affix them to your card.Generally, the birth cards will have some existing message. If you choose a plain card then ensure that you leave ample amount of free space for writing your message. Use colorful sketch pens to write simple and funny messages. Your message must preferably relate to the photograph. This would really add charm to the birth card. You can add some additional decorative elements to the birth card. For instance, glue some beautiful white feathers or some colorful ribbons to enhance the beauty of your card. If you are using folded cards then you can also add a musical element.Your imaginative customisation with baby cards will definitely impress your relatives and friends.For more information you should visit: Digital Print Australia.

2013-01-14T08:35:54Z what-s-on-4-awards-recognises-excellence-in-children-s-activity-awards

Calling all parents – It’s time to get nominating YOUR favourites in Australia’s ONLY children’s activity awards - the 2013 What’s On 4 Junior Awards with Konfidence   As the year 2013 ticked over, thousands of Australians promised to get fitter and healthier.  At a time when the importance of kids being healthy, fit and active is rarely out of the media, what better time to be part of the prestigious 2013 What’s On 4 Junior Awards, which celebrates excellence in all children’s activities, classes, clubs, party providers and days out.   These award-winning websites www.whatson4littleones.com.au; www.whatson4schoolkids.com.au and www.whatson4kidsparties.com.au play a major role in inspiring and encouraging parents and their children to get out there and enjoy classes and activities. The coveted national awards with international Headline Sponsor Konfidence, are run in conjunction with the What’s On 4 Junior awards in the UK (now in their 7th year) and Ireland, and recognise and reward the very best activity providers both nationally and locally as well as party suppliers, venues and those important individuals who make a massive difference to children’s lives.   Being multi-award winners themselves, Konfidence offer everything you could need to make sure child & baby swimming is safe and fun! Having supported the UK awards for a number of years, Konfidence are delighted to be Headline Sponsors for both the awards in Australia and Ireland too! Dan Allen, Business Development Director for Konfidence says .... “Everyone at Konfidence is thrilled to be part of the What’s on 4 Junior Awards for the third consecutive year. Every year the awards get bigger and better and this year we are delighted that they are continuing to grow internationally, with an expanded set of awards in Australia and a brand new set in Ireland for 2013. As always, it will be fantastic to see all the nominees and finalists rewarded for their hard work, and for the opportunities and joy they give to the children, parents and carers they engage with. This resonates strongly with our own values, and is the reason why we are so pleased to be involved with these awards for another year. Dan Allen, International Sales Director, Konfidence   One of last year’s award-winners had this to say of their achievement……   ‘It’s been so exciting and encouraging to be part of the What’s On 4 Junior Awards.  As well as being a fantastic marketing platform, it has given us an opportunity to receive some really motivating feedback from our parents.  The whole experience has been so positive, the support and recognition has been overwhelming.  We’re so proud to be part of the What’s On 4 Awards’. Little Kickers Brisbane Inner North   2013 What’s On 4 Junior Award Categories   Best National Baby and Toddler Activity 0-2 yearssponsored by Konfidence Best National Preschooler Activity 2-5 years sponsored by  LeapFrog Best National School Aged Activity Best Local Baby and Preschooler Activity 0-5 years sponsored by Baby  Bargains Best Local School Aged Activity sponsored by Creative Parenting Best New Activity sponsored by Bubbler Deals Best Not for Profit/Community Activity sponsored by Humphrey’s Corner Most Outstanding Activity Leader 0-5 years sponsored by Lose Baby Weight Most Outstanding Activity Leader 5-12 years Best Family Day Out Best Children's Party Provider sponsored by Mums Lounge Best Party Entertainment Best Pre/Post Natal Activity   Nominations, sponsored by SBM+PR, opened online on January 14th, with the winners to be announced in June 2013 LIVE on PuggleFM radio and through social media, so parents, parents-to be and carers should get nominating NOW to ensure their favourite goes through and everyone who votes or nominates will be in with a chance to win a fantastic prizes from LeapFrog! Voting will open March 18. To nominate go to http://www.whatson4littleones.com.au/awards.asp. Limited sponsorship opportunities are still available please enquire for details. Notes for Editors      ·      For more information on the 2013 What’s On 4 Junior awards see http://www.whatson4littleones.com.au/awards.asp   ·      For more on Konfidence visit http://www.konfidence.com.au ·      Nominations sponsored by SBM+PR| Small Business marketing + PR   Elise Easdown  What’s On 4 Australia Director For further details on WO4, the awards and for further quotes and high res image email elise@whatson4.com.au 1300 309 911/0414210356

2012-11-24T13:32:00Z can-you-afford-not-to-keep-track-of-your-child-s-health

Infants and little kids can get sick ... a lot. This especially holds true once they start childcare or school and are bombarded by a seemingly never-ending cycle of infections.  Add to this the high prevalence of allergies, food intolerances and more than one child, it is little wonder parents find it hard to keep track!The busy-ness of parenting makes it difficult to remember details of when a new illness started, what factors might have triggered a particular symptom or when the last medication was prescribed.  This is often exacerbated by having to see different healthcare professionals, who expect parents to have all this information to-hand.The solution is simple – record it all in a purpose-designed journal. Conceived and designed by Monique Smart (mother and owner of messpots), I've Got an Ow is a highly practical aide-mémoire for parents to record their child’s health conditions, symptoms, illnesses, treatments, current medications, significant health events and more.This journal gives parents peace-of-mind by enabling them to have relevant information at their fingertips to help maximise medical appointments and assist in monitoring their child’s health.  No more of those “ummm ...” moments at the doctors! It includes tables to note general health details, contact pages for healthcare providers, useful first aid & children’s health resources (for Aust and NZ), pockets for business cards, scripts and leaflets, plus over 70 pages for tracking incidents, symptoms, conditions and treatments.The health record tables in I've Got an Ow are deliberately designed to be relatively non-prescriptive, so parents can write what they want to remember.  It is also an attractive and useful keepsake to pass on to children when they reach adulthood, so they too can have an understanding of their early medical and health history. “As a new mum, with a not unusually unwell child (just the common things), I was surprised there wasn’t already a product on the market where I could keep notes of all of his symptoms, coughs and fevers etc.  So I started writing notes in school diaries but figured there had to be a better system, and so ‘I’ve Got an Ow!’ was born ... it really is the latest ‘must-have’ parenting tool.”Monique has been a mother for 4½ years and previously worked as a senior lawyer for 17 years in Melbourne.  messpots was launched in November 2011.I've Got an Ow is priced at $24.95 and is available from messpots (www.messpots.com.au), and selected retailers including The Sydney Children’s Hospital Bookshop, The Allergy Shop and Fullers Bookshop (Hobart).

2012-10-12T02:37:23Z fundraising-with-a-difference-buy-an-alphabet-book-and-support-variety-the-children-s-charity

Two Brisbane based companies worked together to create this gorgeous Alphabet Book which is now being sold as a fundraiser for Variety - the Children’s Charity. The Alphabet Book is a great gift and will be perfect for under the Christmas tree and at the same time you know that you have contributed to a better life for children who are sick, disadvantaged or who have special needs to live, laugh and learn. Months ago, pix2print - a Brisbane based photo book printing company, contacted Variety - the Children’s Charity with the idea of creating a fundraiser with photo books. Variety loved the idea and came up with the brilliant idea to make an Alphabet Book. After engaging Gillian van Niekerk from Vann Photography – an amazingly creative photographer in Brisbane, the process of designing the Alphabet Book started. The idea was to create an Alphabet Book with some letters being represented with photos that would easily be recognised by the younger children. We chose some traditional ‘a-z’ subject matter; the book begins quite naturally with A is for Apple but after that a few modern concepts sneak in.   "It was great fun creating the list, we had input from a wide range of people, including my young children", says photographer Gillian van Niekerk. Amongst the more unusual representations would be S for Sushi and Z for Zinc. The book features leading questions to extend older children, and serve as a guide for prompting more discussion. The overview at the end of the Alphabet Book provides a great way to see if they remember what they have learnt in the book. The Alphabet Book can be bought in 3 different options. They have created a 20x20cm soft cover, a lovely way to teach your child the alphabet, nice and light so you can take it anywhere. And there is also a hard cover option in the same size, great as a gift but also a fantastic addition to your child’s own library. If you want something really special you can also opt for the large 30x30cm Alphabet Book which allows you to submit your own photo for one of the letters of the alphabet. Before printing they will replace the photo of the letter of your choice with your own photo. And you can even add your own question to personalise the photo book even more. So when learning the alphabet, your child can learn the E is for Emily or the M is for Mark and have their own photo in the Alphabet Book. The special edition is also a great option for businesses who are looking for a great, high quality interactive book for in their waiting room or reception area, or who would love to show their support for Variety – the Children’s Charity. A business can send in their logo or a photo of their business which can replace the letter of their choice. Alphabet Books can be bought online at www.pix2print.com.au/fundraising/variety/variety.htm. Variety - the Children’s Charity receives no direct government funding and relies on your generous support to continue their amazing work. For additional information on the Alphabet Book, contact Jude Mulhuijsen at pix2print or Amy Mackay at Variety (amy@varietyqld.org.au). PHOTOS FOR PUBLICATION: Please contact us for your required resolution of photos or if you would like to know what other images are available. You can also have a look at www.pix2print.com.au/mediaroom.htm

2012-09-13T07:23:12Z photo-books-made-for-you-for-the-busy-professional-and-mother-with-no-time

Brisbane, QLD, 13 September 2012 – Everybody loves to have a memento of their special occasion. The amazing holiday, their wedding, the honeymoon, the birth of each child, the first steps of a child and all the other important moments in their first year, the list goes on and on. A photo book or calendar made with photos is the perfect way to capture those special occasions. But when do we have time to make a beautiful photo book or calendar in our busy lives? Photo books ‘Made 4 You’ is the solution for anybody who doesn’t have the time to make a photo book themselves, but would love to share their memories with friends and family! The owner of Pix2print hears it all the time when she tells people what she does for a living. “I wish I had the time to make a photo book of my holiday, can you make one for me if I give you the photos?”, “I would love to have the photos of my wedding in a photo book so I can show my friends and family the special moments of our beautiful day, do you think you could make it for me?” are some of the comments she hears over and over again. And now the busy professionals and the mums without time can have that beautiful photo book too as the professional designers from Pix2print can create a high quality photo book especially ‘Made 4 You’. “It took some time to set up as it needed to be done professionally, but the service also needed to be affordable”, says Jude Mulhuijsen, owner of Pix2print. “People need to feel they are getting value for money with a service like this. And we believe we can now offer them that value for money by only charging $100 for the design service.” And now, after a few months of creating photo books for friends and setting up the perfect process, it is finally available for anybody who wants to have a photo book to share their memories without having to spend any time on it. The process is simple. All you have to do is send an email to let them know you want to create a photo book. A professional designer will respond and let you know the different options to send your photos safely and securely. After that the process is as little or as much hands on as you want. There are options to pick your favourite photo and lay-out for the front cover, you can select a style for the photo book and you can even send text you want added. Or, if you prefer, you can just kick back and relax and let the professional designer do it all for you. Most people want a photo book of their holiday or honeymoon, but other popular themes for photo books are weddings, children and pets. If you are one of those busy professionals or a mum with no time to make a photo book, make sure you check www.pix2print.com.au/made4you.htm and send in an email requesting your photo book made for you.For additional information on high quality photo books Made 4 You, contact Jude Mulhuijsen or visit www.pix2print.com.au. SPECIAL NEWS RELEASE OFFER: If you would like to trial this service, please contact the owner Jude Mulhuijsen via email (jude@pix2print.com.au) to receive a 50% discount on photo books ‘Made 4 You’. Offer valid until the end of September.

2012-09-07T04:02:34Z mums-on-a-mission-to-help-other-mums-grow-their-small-businesses

MiniMoh’s Online Marketplace, www.minimohs.com.au is a shopping destination like no other. A purpose-built online marketplace for babies’, children’s and mums’ clothing and products that are handmade, new or pre-loved. MiniMoh’s is a collective consisting of independent shop owners, designers and small business entrepreneurs showcasing their goods. The two principal partners are work-at-home mums themselves; Natrice Grosvenor and Debbie Stahmer. "We have some amazing, creative, talented people from all around Australia featured on the site. We feel it's time to shout about this new way of buying and selling on our dedicated marketplace site,” says Grosvenor. “We aim to connect designers, entrepreneurs and retailers directly with targeted consumers, providing both the retailers and the customers with a safe, convenient way to shop, all in one place,” says Stahmer. “It’s perfect for busy mums.” Minimoh’s is currently raising awareness of their free-to-join facility for retailers. To do that, they are engaging retailers in a direct marketing campaign, as well as ‘going viral’ on all social media outlets with a simple message: “Let us help you grow your business nationally.” This will give many work-at-home mums a new avenue to earn a living – all without needing to raise any capital. Anyone can join MiniMoh’s community. Just by registering an e-mail address, members will be inspired by blogs, enjoy Designer Spotlight interviews, be able to enter competitions, and of course stay in touch via a weekly e-mail highlighting new and unique products. Minimoh’s has yet to launch and already ‘mumpreneurs’ are taking advantage of the unique cost-effective selling opportunities by signing up for their own online market stall. The site will launch Monday, 15th October 2012. Website: https://www.minimohs.com.au For additional information, or interviews please contact: Natrice Grosvenor, Founding Partner natrice@minimohs.com.au / 0418 602 404

2012-09-03T23:57:00Z andable-helps-parents-buy-better-for-their-family

MEDIA RELEASEAndable Helps Parents ‘Buy Better’ For Their Family~ new online Australian marketplace combines everyday & luxury kids’ items with micro lending[1] to support small businesses at home and abroad ~Sydney, September 4, 2012 – Parents can now enjoy shopping for items and gifts that are more natural and sustainable, while ‘buying better’ for their children, friends and families, thanks to the launch of www.andable.com (from ‘willing & able’). Created for Mums and Dads (or Mums to be) who want to nurture their family and use products that are handmade, unique, ethically produced and organic, Andable features items from independent, playful brands & designers, such as Mozzie & Mac, Bed Toppings (chocolate and toy-inspired bedding) and Gus & Ollie (unique, colourful soft toys), for those young or young at heart. With Andable, every sale supports a Kiva micro loan to a person in need at no cost to either buyer or seller. Products on Andable must be a little bit FRESH. FRESH stands for: • Fair Trade or better business practices• Reborn – vintage, antique, recycled, upcycled• Eco-friendly• Support local business• Handmade Andable features everyday, unique & luxury items from 200+ independent retailers and designers across 80+ categories in six countries, including health & beauty, home & garden, men’s, kids’ & women’s wear, pets, stationery & art. Anyone can set up a shop for free or buy and all transactions are facilitated securely via credit card or Paypal from any where in the world. The marketplace is growing all the time as new shops and products are added every day.How the marketplace works:1. Sellers create a shop and list items, all for free.2. Buyer browses Andable.com and purchases directly from seller via credit card or Paypal.3. At point of sale, Seller receives 85% of the sales price.4. Andable receives 5% as commission.5. Micro loan fund gets 10% of every sales purchase, facilitated by Kiva.org.6. The micro loan gets repaid, and Andable pays sellers the 10% after three months, guaranteed. The seller is left with 95% of the sales price.“Andable is, quite simply, shopping with a conscience. Parents can indulge in beautiful and unique products for their family while buying better and helping people in need. We’re very excited because the more we grow, the more lives we change through Kiva,” said Melissa Dean, Co-Founder of Andable. Andable has been co-founded by Rupal Ismin & Melissa Dean. The 10% mission was inspired by Rupal’s grandfather, who, despite growing up as an impoverished boy in India, always donated 10% of his income to charity.For more information, or browse or sell, please visit www.Andable.com. About Andable Launched in Sydney, Australia in 2012, Andable is a global online marketplace with thousands of products for every taste and price range, from everyday items through to eclectic and hard-to-find products. We have more than 80 categories including accessories, health & beauty, home & garden, men’s & women’s wear, food, art, kids and more. Andable is the most cost-effective and transparent marketplace for designers, creatives, declutterers, and independent retailers each with a unique story. Products on Andable adhere to one or more FRESH principles: Fair Trade, Reborn, Eco-friendly, Supports local business and Handmade. Andable is a social enterprise which means every sale helps fund a micro loan to a person in need, all at no cost to you via our globally trusted partner, Kiva. Andable’s mission is to support small business, both here and abroad. When you buy, we share. Browse to your heart’s content at www.andable.com www.facebook.com/andable www.twitter.com/andable Hello@andable.comPinterest/Introducingandable For more information, please contact:Jo BalfourProgressiva+61 405 542 018jobalfour@progressiva.com.au [1] Micro loans are the provisions of small lines of credit to those who do not have access to typical banking services. These loans provide individuals in need with capital to help start or improve their business, with the vision that low-income individuals are capable of lifting themselves out of poverty if given access to financial services. (www.Kiva.org, June 2012)

2012-07-24T03:49:10Z ikemu-offers-real-rewards-for-playing-online-games

Are you tired of playing online games and getting nothing but a gold star by your screen name? The free online gaming site, iKEMU has upped the ante and not only offers online prestige for high scores, but also real rewards. This online gaming forum works with top brands to offer rewards that players love. The rewards are constantly changing and new brands are featured regularly. Recently iKEMU has introduced a new top brand game from Pita Pit. The Pita Master is an addictive internet game that will have you scrambling to collect the right ingredients to make the perfect pita with the right amount of energy. It may seem simple at first, but gives enough of a challenge to keep players working hard to refine their skills and get the top score. As you play you can see who is also playing the game to establish your competitors, as well as who is scoring the high points so you can establish how well you have to do to gain the lead. New real rewards are released daily and the top three scorers win real prizes online from the various select game brands and the two leaderboard spot prizes are announced every night at midnight. Win iKEMU’s current featured prizes such as a fresh, healthy yet flavourful pita from Pita Pit, or a tub of Piako Gourmet Yogurt or a Video Ezy Game Rental Voucher. Every day gives new opportunity to competitors to claim the top spots and reap the benefits of their victories. IKEMU’s vibrant online community is bustling with players aiming to improve their scores and top the charts of each select featured game. The friendly competition will put your skills to the test and push you to refine your gaming techniques in order to reap the benefits of great real rewards. iKEMU is paving the future of casual gaming with their real rewards prize system. Invite your friends and play online games for real rewards with iKEMU. Players can sign up for free and just have to fill out a simple registration form to be accepted into this online gaming community. IKEMU believes in the fun of online gaming and aims to leave players satisfied and excited about the games they play. IKEMU lists the daily top ten highest scores for each game, so you know exactly what you’re up against. Get involved in online gaming where you can get satisfying tangible rewards. Fill your pass time with fun and see how your gaming abilities measure up to other iKEMU friends and competitors. Like iKEMU Games on Facebook now to get latest updates and news about iKEMU.

2012-07-23T09:08:32Z food-babies-love

New mums can unite in the fact that this whole baby ‘thing’ can be pretty confusing and somewhat stressful. Once you have the milk feeds and sleeping part down pat, they start to roll and crawl and get teeth and, well, grow up. You are soon forced down another unfamiliar path – the introduction of solids. If only there was an easy guide…Melbourne mum Emily Dupuche has lived through that scenario once (with twins!) and is currently living it again with Baby Number 3. A self-professed foodie who loves her kitchen and loves preparing meals, Emily was surprised by her lack of confidence in what to prepare her then-new twin babies. She quickly learned she was not alone. Pushing through the confusion and self doubt, Emily began earning rave recipe reviews from her fellow mothers’ group mums, their babies and her own pair of mini food testers. She felt she had to share her knowledge and before Emily knew it, her next ‘baby’ was born – Food Babies Love.“Food Babies Love is a collection of deliciously simple recipes and anecdotes from my family adventures on the journey to solids and beyond,” Emily says. “I created it to share my love of food and encourage other families to cook good, fresh, tasty food for their babies.”While the introduction of solids is an important stage in a child’s development with parents laying down the foundations for a lifetime of food enjoyment for their kids, Emily acknowledges the challenges new parents face finding time and motivation in the kitchen. The reality is, parents are busy people. While the recipes in Food Babies Love are designed to expose little ones to a wide variety of flavours to help them develop an appreciation for food, for diversity in flavour as well as colour and texture, they are also quick and easy to replicate.“My recipes are mainly adaptations of family favourites created specifically for little palates, whilst still exposing them to wonderful tastes and food experiences through the use of fresh herbs and gentle spices,” Emily explains.“I don’t intend to preach and I don’t pretend to know it all. What I do want is to show that baby food needn’t be boring and to help inspire mums when it can all feel a bit like groundhog day in the kitchen.”Emily has already earned the praise of international baby whisperer and best-selling author Tizzie Hall.“Food Babies Love is a good, commonsense approach to weaning which I believe makes this stage of parenting even more exciting and enjoyable when used alongside my new book, Save Our Sleep – Feeding,” Tizzie says. “Emily’s book compliments my feeding advice because of our similar approaches of teaching baby to enjoy family meals sooner rather than later.“Research shows the more tastes a baby has before their first birthday the larger variety of food this baby will go on to eat throughout their childhood and right into adulthood. Emily’s book will definitely help you achieve this.”Food Babies Love takes readers on a journey from preparing themselves and their kitchens for the onslaught of baby food preparation, to easy recipes and hints covering ‘The first few weeks’, ‘The next few months’, ‘No looking back’ and ‘12 months plus’. There are recipes for interesting breakfasts, lunches and dinner options, baby baking, snacks and even drinks.“I believe parents have a duty to their children to educate them and ensure they have a positive relationship with food,” Emily says. “Kids need an understanding of good food, to know when enough is enough and to appreciate diversity in food. Do I always get it right? No. Are my kids perfect eaters? No.But they are happy and healthy and ultimately eat a well-balanced diet.”Food Babies Love is the perfect addition to any family kitchen and is also a beautiful,practical gift for a new mum. At 188 pages, the book features stunning food stylingby Mish Lilley and photography by Guy Lavoipierre. And as a special thankyou gift,Emily is including two popular My Family character stickers with the first 250online purchases. Choose between the newly released (and perfectly suited!)Cooking Mum or Dad character stickers as well as a Baby Girl or Boy.Food Babies Love is available for sale at www.foodbabieslove.com.au for $34.95.For more recipes and other hints and tips, follow Food Babies Love on Facebookat www.facebook.com/foodbabieslove (Please note: recipes, high-res images and review and giveaway copies are all available to selected media)

2012-07-18T05:14:29Z save-lives-of-kids-by-fencing-your-swimming-pools-nz-drowning-facts

When you think of swimming pools, I’m sure some of the words that spring to mind are, refreshing, summer, fun and rejuvenating. Nothing is quite like cooling off in a pool on a hot and humid New Zealand day. Who doesn’t want free access to a pool in their back yard to enjoy whenever you want to? But with all the benefits – there comes dangers. Accidental drowning is a harrowing reality. That’s why pool fencing is an absolute necessity, especially if there are young ones who play outside.A few facts and statistics [Source: Safekids.org.nz] that really hit home about the importance of pool fencing include: - Following submersion, a child loses consciousness after around 90-120 seconds. What follows is irreversible brain damage - The most common cause of drowning is falling into the water - Drowning is one of the top causes of deaths in New Zealand for children, accounting for 16.5% of all fatal unintentional injuries between the ages of 0-14 years - On average, 15 children ages 0-14 years die a year from drowning in New Zealand alone - Boys are almost twice as likely to drown then girls.These are some truly scary figures. But how could your kids ever be part of these numbers? You watch your children extremely carefully.In actual fact, the majority of children who drown – the parents are in the area. All it takes is 5 minutes being vacant. That could be turning your back to answer the phone, going to record your TV programs for that night or fetching sunblock for your child. Typically, parents who have lost their loved ones are the most vigilant and careful.Something that has dramatically dropped the tolls is the Fencing of ‘Swimming Pools Act 1987’. It requires every home owner with a pool and even a spa to enclose the space at a minimum height of 1.2m. Obviously, if you have chairs by the pool or even a changing shed, this is included as part of the ‘pool area’. But it is going too far if you put a fence around your whole back yard, because it is most likely that children wander these places freely, such as the washing line or the garden.Not only is having a safety fence around your pool the responsible choice, it is also the legally correct choice. Taking the proper precautions ensures everyone can enjoy the peace and tranquility of enjoying a summers day at your pool.Bulldog Fencing offers New Zealand a range of premium Steel and Aluminium fencing products and services. It focuses on providing durable fencing products that can meet a large variety of fencing needs. This fencing company offers a variety of different styles and strengths or landscape fencing, pool fencing, kindi/school fencing, security fencing, motorway fencing, balustrades, swing driveway gates, sliding driveway gates, cantilever gates and fencing accessories. Bulldog Fencing is a New Zealand owned and managed company.

2012-06-21T00:32:47Z give-yourself-a-good-night-s-sleep-with-slumbertop-memory-foam-topper

You will find a surprising percentage of the population has problems getting a good night’s sleep. This can be for a myriad of reasons, but unfortunately a bad night’s sleep can have an equally myriad of negative results. Getting a good night’s sleep is as important to your health and wellbeing as regular exercise and a healthy diet. It has been ascertained and proved that REM or rapid eye movement sleep is the most essential element of your sleep cycle and it can take as long as 90 minutes to reach that part of the cycle. Tossing and turning cuts into the amount of REM sleep that you get every night which means that you will wake up feeling tired as you have not recharged your body during your night’s sleep. This can impair your mental performance and increase your stress levels, so it becomes even more imperative that we try to assist in every way to give ourselves a great night’s sleep. Choosing a memory foam mattress pad from SlumberTop may be one of the most important decisions you make for your body and your general wellbeing, plus you never need to wake up with an aching back again. Considering the huge benefits of a memory SlumberTop you should make up your mind to buy one, sooner than later, so here are some important statistics for you to make the process simpler. Memory foam is made in various densities and this is an important decision as a low density does not provide adequate support whereas too high a density is often too firm and more costly. SlumberTop is made of the best quality materials available, utilising the latest technology coupled with quality Japanese materials, being superior and more affordable than other brands. Now that you have decided to purchase one of these fantastic toppers, will you need a 50mm or a 75mm topper? Their 50mm toppers are suitable for people who have a mattress that is too firm and need a softer comfort layer to conform to their body shape. They are also suitable for people who prefer to sleep on their stomach. The 75mm topper is great for side and back sleepers. It is also recommended for people weighing over95kg and is actually the number one choice for memory foam mattress toppers. Just go to their website at http://www.slumbertop.co.nz/order.htmlto order your good night’s sleep today!

2012-06-13T10:24:01Z baby-glimpse

It is a wonderful opportunity for all parents to have a closer look at their unborn baby with the help of latest medical technologies. Parents have an exclusive interest in watching their womb kid before coming out to this world. It is really a boon for them as they are totally happy by watching their kid's movement inside the mother's tomb. However, some doctors or clinics misuse their interest and curiosity by extorting money with their third rated baby ultrasound practice. This is totally atrocious and has to be curbed at the nib stage itself. To overcome these issues, Baby Glimpse, a unique 3d/4d ultrasound specialist from Sydney clinic is serving the people to cope with their needs without flaw. The team has well versed, experienced, qualified, technically sound and world class sonography technicians to meet the desires of the parents. The world class technology features of the Baby Glimpse have made parents feel comfortable and happy on visualizing their babies without any margin of error. Hence, the parents need not wait to see their baby for a long time as they are easily can love their small one even at womb stage. The success of the Baby Glimpse team is due to their passion with expertise for 3D/4D ultrasound technologies. These technologies bring the exact picture of the unborn baby at affordable rates. The parents can get first rated images of their child with the help of sonographers; expertise. Unlike other clinics, here only quality is the mantra and so the team is achieving the results every time. The Baby Glimpse has different types of packages for the convenience of parents or customers. It starts from 110$ and ends at 260$ as the rate varies as per the quality of images. The packages range from a quick look , closer look, better look to good look . The packages vary according to the stages of child via gender determination, 15 to 29 weeks, 28 to 35 weeks, and total photo collection of unborn babies. The Baby Glimpse is firm enough by protecting parents from being caught in the hands of unscrupulous sonographers in this world. This is because many unskilled technicians misuse the people for the sake of money by running an unauthorized medical sonography center. They are usually not accredited and hence it is the duty of the parents to inquire about them without fail. Also, it stresses the importance of quality of machine being used while the images of the child are taken. However, this bonding ultrasound from Sydney clinic differs from other sonographers by their international experiences.

2012-06-04T05:23:06Z australia-and-new-zealand-babywearing-week-2012-carrying-on-traditions-using-the-oldest-parenting-methods

This year marks the third national celebration of Australia and New Zealand Babywearing Week. It will run parallel with International Babywearing Week from 8-14 October 2012, following the theme “Carrying on Traditions”. Babes in Arms, babywearing specialists and founders of Australia and New Zealand Babywearing Week, initiated the celebration in 2010 to raise awareness about the benefits of babywearing. The week of activities also demonstrates how modern parents can enjoy peaceful and active post-baby lifestyles by using baby slings and carriers, the oldest parenting tools known to mankind. As part of the national celebration, babywearing parents across Australia and New Zealand will be inviting their local communities to join babywearing events that they have initiated and organised. Each event will be in the running to win up to $3000 worth of community grants to donate their nominated local community project or not for profit organisation. Three $1000 community grants will be awarded as follows: Biggest Babywearing Group Award Media Attention Award(minimum of at least 3 media spots) ERGObaby Flash Mob Award Planning is already underway for 2012 events, with many parents harnessing the power of social media to invite their peers to events such as babywearing picnics, babywearing beach walks and sling demonstration days via the Australia and NZ Babywearing Week Facebook Page. A total of 24 events were registered last year across Australia and New Zealand. Babes in Arms anticipates even greater interest this year due to the growing community and additional social media partnerships. Australia and New Zealand Babywearing sponsor ERGObaby and key retailers will host free babywearing demonstrations, morning teas and test drives at key baby stores to educate parents and caregivers on the safe use of slings and carriers. Babywearing has many benefits for babies, including decreasing crying and fussiness by up to 51%; promoting healthy sleep patterns; accelerating infant growth; increasing the learning ability and a baby’s sense of security and attachment to their caregiver. Babywearing also benefits parents and other caregivers, significantly decreasing the stress associated with crying and anxious babies as well as allowing them to more easily and comfortably care for their children while attending daily tasks of living.